Website Home Page – Summary (for text at bottom) Keyword Intensive- underline links ClearGuard, the ultimate in Clear panel protection can only be obtained through the Dealer network of Transparent Protection Systems, Inc.(TPS). Every homeowner should be sure to have a clear panel system that allows light in and vision out. These narrow/lightweight panels are easy to put up and to store away. Our Clear panels are compatible with metal panels for compact stacking and for instant metal upgrades. Only the ClearGuard panel provides a safe and easy system – no sharp edges. Dealers that distribute the ClearGuard panel already know that our Clear panels have superior strength and shape retention due to our exclusive extruded design. No large sheets that have the panel walls stretched thin from thermoforming. ClearGuard will not rust, shatter or corrode. Transparent Protection Systems and the ClearGuard panel meet or exceed all Building Codes for Hurricane Protection in the USA, even the latest ASTM test criteria including the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. No Bars or additional supports and completely transparent. Clear Hurricane Protection that is affordable and comes with a TEN YEAR WARRANTY. Safety and Security at its best! ClearGuard Hurricane Panels – Strong as Steel and Clear as Glass. With TPS, “The Difference is Clear” According to the experts at the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), an average Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 – November 30) brings eleven named storms with six becoming hurricanes and two becoming major hurricanes. While forecasters lowered their initial expectations for heavy storm activity in 2007, two category five hurricanes – Dean and Felix – did hit in Q3 2007. In addition, Humberto, a category one hurricane, went from tropical to depression to a full scale hurricane in just 18 hours, growing faster than any storm on record, while Tropical Storm Noel wreaked havoc in the Dominican Republic, before being upgraded to Hurricane Noel in the Bahamas. Forecasts for 2008 indicate that more storms are expected. The point is that severe weather can strike anytime, without warning. When a storm warning is issued, many residents and business owners react the only way they know how – by boarding up their windows using wood or metal storm shutters. As the storm approaches, installation companies are inundated with rush requests and do not always have time to service every call, and conventional shutter materials can be difficult to self-install. Most Homeowners are also finding out that by protecting their homes against Hurricanes, they qualify for significant Insurance Discounts. In fact, it appears that the discounts have become a competitive tool for the Insurance discounts. There are even State funded grants for those that decide to mitigate potential disaster. As 2008 rapidly approaches, now is a good time to get proactive and consider making a New Year’s resolution to protect your home or business from damaging and potentially life-threatening weather by installing storm panels made from super-tough, high-performance polycarbonate resin. Polycarbonate hurricane panels are durable enough to withstand the strongest winds and flying debris, are easy to install and store, and look better on your home or business than slabs of wood or metal. Durable Storm Protection High performance polycarbonate storm panels provide extended product life due to their extreme durability. Made from super-tough, UV-resistant polycarbonate resin, such as CALIBRE™ Polycarbonate Resins from The Dow Chemical Company, polycarbonate storm panels are highly dent-resistant, compared to conventional materials. In addition, polycarbonate will not shatter, rust or corrode. Storm panels made with polycarbonate resin meet or exceed most building codes for hurricane protection in the United States, including Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Florida Building Code (FBC) including the “High Velocity Hurricane Zones”, and Miami-Dade County standards. Polycarbonate storm panels have been tested to the latest ASTM test criteria which allows for use in most areas governed by the International Code (Southeast USA.) Most of the States that have enacted the International Code, have code provisions that mandate the use of Hurricane Protection for all New Construction in Coastal areas. Several Florida homeowners have already made polycarbonate storm panels a part of their homes. Many residents leave the area during storm season, but while they are out of harm’s way, their homes are still at potential risk from severe weather. Betty Landfald, who recently bought a new home in Tampa, Florida, decided to invest in storm panels made with CALIBRE™ from West Coast Windows. “Many home owners in Tampa head north during storm season,” according to Landfald. “They leave the durable polycarbonate panels up, protecting their homes while they are away.” Coventional applications can leave a Residential area with a boarded-up look that may hurt the aesthetic quality of the Community. Some Associations have outlawed this type of shutter usage when owners are out of town. The CLEAR panel installation is a sure winner with Homeowner Associations because the system is virtually invisible and leaves the beauty of a neighborhood intact. In addition to providing storm protection, polycarbonate hurricane panels can double as a burglary/vandalism deterrent, providing your home or business with additional security and protection. Easy-to-use According to the NOAA National Hurricane Center, with expectations for an active Atlantic hurricane season, it is critically important that people who live in East and Gulf Coast areas be prepared. Hurricane panels made with CALIBRE™ are a more efficient way to proactively prepare for severe weather. Inherently more lightweight than conventional materials such as wood and metal, polycarbonate storm panels are easy to install. Polycarbonate storm panels are compatible with most panel system, so it is easy to upgrade an existing system. When not in use, they are also easy to store. There are no sharp edges and the panels stack for more efficient storage. “If I had to, I could put the panels up myself, if a storm suddenly hit the Tampa area,” says Landfald. “Another plus is that the panels stack, so they’re also very easy to store.” Scott D. Kuntz, the National Sales Manager for Transparent Protection Systems Inc., had the following comments. Everything changed in 2004-05. This Clear Hurricane Panel used to be thought of as a niche or specialty product. Now that most Homeowners across the State of Florida and throughout the Southeast had the occasion to board up windows or put their shutters in place, some new thinking has come to forefront for those protecting their windows. In 2004, it was Bonnie, then Charlie, then Frances, and then there was still Ivan? And Jeanne, are you serious? Then 2005 brought Katrina, Rita, and Wilma – and then we ran out of names!! We actually went into the Greek alphabet. Many residents were still working on repairs from prior years’ damage. Most of us kept our shutters up for 3-4 maybe even 6 weeks. Even today, you can see many homes and buildings with the Hurricane Protection still in place. Many homeowners lost power and lost it for weeks on end. Hurricane #4 was looming in the near future, might as well leave the Shutters in place - was the conventional thinking. Living in total darkness for what seemed like weeks and weeks was a tortuous event. Burning ten candles at one time was fun the first day but became unsafe and didn’t provide an appropriate alternative. Anyone that went through the “Living In A Cave Experience” does not want to go through it again! I went through it, my neighbors and friends went through it, as did thousands of homeowners throughout Florida. People also have a voyeuristic tendency and want to be able to see outside for proper viewing of the wind related spectacle. Due to this “Real Life Experience”, brought to you by - Mother Nature, there has been a dramatic response in the Hurricane Shutter Industry. Consumers want “See-Through” or Clear Hurricane Protection. Now the word is out that such a product exists and it is very affordable like the standard Hurricane Panels. This must-have product is sweeping the industry and has Homeowners clamoring and Shutter Companies reeling. Improved Aesthetics Hurricane panels made from CALIBRE™ provide excellent clarity, with up to 85 percent natural light transmission. While allowing natural light in – compared with other materials that leave you in the dark – polycarbonate doesn’t sacrifice privacy or performance. “Other people in the neighborhood had the polycarbonate storm panels on their homes and I liked the way they looked,” says Landfald. “They storm panels are clear, so you’re not in the dark if a storm hits.” In addition, polycarbonate panels block ultra-violet (UV) rays, preventing any fade on furniture or other belongings. Finally, polycarbonate panels are highly dent-resistant compared to metal panels, meaning that in addition to your home or business, your panels won’t look as if they have weathered a storm, either. Looks like Hurricane protection is becoming a part of everyday life. Clear polycarbonate hurricane panels appear to be the obvious choice for most Homeowners and progressive shutter companies. The characteristics of polycarbonate make it a logical alternative to plywood and metal when protecting one’s home or business against high winds and flying debris. Choosing storm panels made with high performance polycarbonate resin is an excellent way to ensure reliable storm protection for home or business, as we say goodbye to 2007 and get a head start on storm protection for 2008. Make that New Years resolution now and allow yourself to “Come out of the Dark Ages”. There is never a better time than now! Transparent Protection Systems, Inc. (TPS) “The Difference is CLEAR” Transparent Protection Systems, Inc., founded in 2000, is a wholly-owned division of Nytef Plastics, Ltd. and the manufacturer of ClearGuardÒ Hurricane Panels, made from super tough and UV resistant Polycarbonate. Nytef Plastics was founded in 1972, and has been consistently focused on serving the needs of plastic distributors and their customers. Nytef is a leading manufacturer of engineering grade thermoplastic stock shapes (rod, plate, and heavy walled tube). Nytef Plastics offers the world's widest range of materials with facilities in Woodhaven, NY, Bensalem, PA, Elk Grove Village, IL, Whittier CA, and Fachbach, Germany Located in West Palm Beach, FL, Transparent Protection Systems, Inc. distributes the ClearGuard Panel internationally through a comprehensive network of authorized Dealer/Installers. Our manufacturing facility and other buildings in West Palm Beach encompass over 25,000 square feet and 35 employees. Due to the ultra-high demand for our product, we have been focusing our efforts on just the ClearGuard Product. Our primary focus has been to increase our Production capacity without compromising quality. As soon as our expansion needs are met, we can then introduce some of our newly developed products to the Marketplace. Transparent Protection Systems, Inc., has utilized its’ R & D Department to identify and test new concepts and at the same time, successfully integrate leading edge technology to its’ “state of the art” facilities. In response to the active Hurricane Seasons of ‘04 and ‘05, we have seen a dramatic increase in business which has amounted to a tenfold increase since 2003 with a projection for twice as much again going forward into 2006. Much of our growth is based upon long term planning and is contingent upon prior commitments and forecasting. Our West Palm Beach location also serves as Nytef Plastics, Ltd. Corporate Headquarters. We have a fully computerized business, complete with an IT Dept. that helps to service our many websites and e-mail traffic. The bulk of our Customers are found in Coastal areas throughout the Southeast USA along with other Hurricane prone areas such as the Caribbean Islands, Countries along the Gulf of Mexico, and Countries throughout the Pacific rim. Since we are a manufacturer that distributes through an authorized Dealer network, we employ a small but experienced Sales force that is responsible for processing & shipping orders. We also make it our mission to support our Dealers with any issues that involve technical questions and Marketing help. When I first started in 2004, the Market for Clear protection was limited but there was a huge potential. With some hard work to create brand awareness and name recognition, the seeds for success were planted in what became a record breaking Hurricane Season in 2004 that was followed up by the “Once in a Century Season” in 2005. Our tagline of “Come out of the Dark Ages” with ClearGuard Hurricane Panels, soon became the reality. Just about everyone from the Gulf Coast of Mexico through the Atlantic Seaboard had felt the anxiety from numerous Hurricane Watches and Warnings. Many homeowners were boarded up for weeks at a time, going through what we call the “Living in a Cave experience”. It seems now that Homeowners understand how important it can be to have an inexpensive and lightweight product that lets light come in and allows outward vision. The weather related phenomena has caused new thinking for Homeowners seeking Hurricane Protection, and for those that already had protection, Clear Panels have become an obvious upgrade. Our niche in the Market has always been with the Clear Hurricane Panel. As we move forward with our technological advances and our expertise in Plastics, TPS will always stay at the forefront in Hurricane Protection. As a nationwide Plastics Company, we have never had to rely on active Hurricane Seasons to stay viable. It is because of our diversity and unlimited resources that we are able to forge ahead at all times while other Companies come and go. As a Dealer based organization, TPS has been working with other organizations to sell our Product to end-users. TPS works hard to facilitate this process. We have some very strong relationships with key suppliers in the industry. These relationships are built on trust. With some of our high-profile Dealers, we may have some accounts that overlap and some accounts that we voluntarily turn over by referral. Our Dealers know that we look to support them and their Dealers, and that we can be trusted to do the right thing. While others may give in to greed, Transparent Protection Systems stands tall on Corporate Integrity and Industry Credibility. Our ClearGuard product was once considered a niche product, but now has been transformed into an Industry staple. We have worked hard on dispelling myths and or rumors by those wishing to promote their own products. There has been little or no competition as of late, but now there are some knock-off products starting to turn up along with the potential for overseas counterfeit or pirated products. As the “exclusive licensee” for this patented product we are afforded legal protection under the law. Our proprietary design has no peer as we have the most desirable design that imitates the metal panel shape. This allows for easy stacking and storing of panels while making for a convenient upgrade when switching over from metal panels. Our narrow design offers Homeowners a safe and lightweight alternative and eliminates what we call “The Plywood Effect” of big sheets and unwieldy pieces. Our super tough polycarbonate is extruded with a special UV resistance package that has made our ClearGuard Hurricane Panel the most sought after Clear panel by the largest Companies in the Protection Industry along with being an obvious choice for the most informed Homeowner. Down the road in a few short years, we can continue to expect to see TPS as an industry leader that has a more diverse product line with even more established lines of distribution. I expect to see myself leading the charge as we move into areas once considered remote and with little or no Market. I hope to still be an active part of the IHPA and involved with other organizations that help shape the future for Building Codes, Code Compliance and homeowner protection.